June 3, 2026

From Personal Adversity to Purpose-Driven Innovation

For Ben Backes, helping people was never simply a career choice, it was a mission born from personal experience.

At 17 years old, Ben sustained a spinal cord injury that permanently changed the course of his life. Like many people who face significant challenges, he quickly learned that overcoming adversity requires more than determination alone. It requires support, guidance, practical tools, and people who truly understand how to help.

That experience became the foundation of everything that followed.

“I don’t want people to experience the same suffering that I did,” Ben explains.

His early professional work focused on substance abuse prevention and public speaking. He spent years speaking to students, sharing his story, and helping young people navigate difficult decisions. Eventually, that work led him into schools, where he provided direct support to students facing academic, emotional, and social challenges.

But over time, he noticed something important.

Many support systems were designed to react to problems after they appeared rather than helping students build the skills needed to prevent those problems in the first place.

“I wanted to be the person I wish I had when I was younger.”

That realization would eventually help shape the future direction of Frankenberger Associates Learning Solutions Center.

Looking Beyond Symptoms

Ben’s clinical background as a behavioral therapist significantly influences how he approaches both therapy and education.

While understanding the “why” behind a challenge can be valuable, Ben believes meaningful change happens when individuals learn what to do next.

“My focus has always been on action,” he says. “Awareness is important, but awareness alone doesn’t change outcomes. The question becomes: What systems, strategies, and supports can we put in place that create lasting change?”

This perspective was shaped early in his career working in the substance abuse field.

Substance abuse often appears complex and overwhelming, but Ben learned that meaningful progress frequently comes from implementing concrete, evidence-based actions consistently over time.

Today, that same philosophy guides the work done at Frankenberger Associates.

Whether a client struggles with executive functioning, social learning, anxiety, organization, flexibility, communication, or independence, the goal is the same: identify practical solutions that can be applied in real life.

Why Executive Functioning and Social Learning Matter

When Ben joined forces with founder Caryl Frankenberger, he saw an opportunity to address some of the most important skills affecting success across the lifespan.

Executive functioning and social learning are not simply academic skills.

They influence nearly every aspect of life.

They impact:

• Time management
• Organization
• Planning and prioritization
• Emotional regulation
• Self-advocacy
• Communication
• Relationship development
• Independence
• Career success

These skills often determine whether someone can effectively use their strengths and pursue their goals.

“Weaknesses in executive functioning or social skills often limit awareness, ownership, and self-direction,” Ben explains.

“Our goal is to help people gain more choice in directing their own lives.”

This belief sits at the core of Frankenberger Associates’ coaching philosophy. The organization isn’t interested in providing temporary fixes. They’re interested in teaching skills that continue to create positive outcomes long after coaching ends.

“We’re not homework helpers. We’re not band-aids. We’re teaching life skills that are replicable and sustainable.”

Building Something Different

As Assistant Executive Director, Ben’s role extends far beyond program development. He sees himself as an innovator constantly asking a simple question: How can we create better outcomes for clients while using our team’s time and expertise as effectively as possible?

That mindset has fueled significant growth and innovation throughout the organization.

Over the past several years, Frankenberger Associates has expanded its individualized Executive Function Coaching and Social Learning programs, developed professional development offerings for educators, and launched a growing library of parent-focused educational resources.

One initiative Ben is particularly excited about is the company’s expanding collection of On-Demand Parent courses.

These courses were created to solve an important challenge.

Many families could benefit from expert guidance but may not be ready for or able to access individualized coaching services.

The result was a series of affordable, practical courses designed to provide actionable strategies parents can implement immediately. Each course includes concise instructional modules, practical tools, and downloadable resources designed to help families create meaningful change at home.

“Our goal is to reach more families and provide solutions that are both accessible and impactful.”

A Customized Approach to Social Learning

One area where Frankenberger Associates has become especially known is its individualized social learning programming.

Unlike many traditional social skills programs that rely on fixed curricula and group-based instruction, FA has built a highly customized model designed around the unique needs of each learner.

The team draws heavily from evidence-based frameworks, including the UCLA PEERS® model, while adapting interventions to fit the realities of each client’s life.

Every Social Learning Coach at Frankenberger Associates is trained in evidence-based social learning methodologies, and the team continuously refines its approach based on client outcomes and emerging research.

“We’re committed to using approaches that work,” Ben says. “At the same time, we recognize that every individual is different. That’s why customization is so important.”

The goal is not simply teaching social rules. The goal is helping clients develop the awareness, flexibility, confidence, and problem-solving skills needed to navigate real-world relationships successfully.

What Success Really Looks Like

Ask Ben what outcome excites him most, and he doesn’t mention grades, test scores, or completed assignments.

He talks about freedom.

He talks about options.

He talks about self-direction.

“The best outcome is seeing someone gain more choice in their life.”

For some clients, that might mean successfully transitioning to college. For others, it might mean building friendships, managing responsibilities independently, advocating for themselves, or pursuing opportunities they previously believed were out of reach.

The team regularly receives messages from parents and students describing meaningful changes in their daily lives. Those stories reinforce the organization’s belief that executive functioning and social learning are not secondary skills. They are foundational life skills.

The Future of Frankenberger Associates

Looking ahead, Ben is energized by what the organization has accomplished and what comes next.

Over the past two and a half years, Frankenberger Associates has followed a deliberate growth strategy focused on quality, innovation, and long-term impact.

“We’ve done what we said we were going to do.”

That consistency has created momentum for future initiatives, including:

• A parent resource portal to improve communication and access to materials
• Continued website enhancements and educational content
• Expanded family-centered service offerings
• More integrated support models combining executive functioning and social learning
• Enhanced professional development opportunities for staff

The vision remains simple:

Continue improving the quality, accessibility, and impact of the services provided to families.

The Real Backbone of the Organization

Before concluding, Ben is quick to redirect attention away from himself.

If there is one message he wants readers to remember, it is this:

Frankenberger Associates is built by its team.

“Our coaches are the backbone of this organization.”

He speaks with genuine admiration for the professionals who work directly with students, families, and clients every day.

“They are autonomous. They make good decisions. I learn from them. Without our team, we’re nothing.”

While growth, innovation, and new initiatives are exciting, Ben believes the true success of Frankenberger Associates comes down to the people delivering the services.

The quality of those relationships—and the expertise behind them—is what creates lasting change.

And ultimately, that’s what the organization exists to do.

Jennifer Frost, M.A.

Executive Function Coach & Literacy Tutor, Frankenberger Associates